ìShow me the dataî

• Choosing the variables to change

  • Penlight in dark attic

• Manipulating chosen variables

• Controlling the ones not chosen

  • Noise and bias

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Observations and data
natural settings (such as a forest)

completely contrived ones (such as the laboratory).
To make their observations, scientists use their own senses, instruments (such as microscopes) that enhance those senses, and instruments that tap characteristics quite different from what humans can sense (such as magnetic fields). Scientists observe pas

Sometimes control conditions deliberately and precisely

Often, however, control of conditions may be impractical or unethical or likely to distort the natural phenomena

great value is placed on the development of better instruments and techniques of observation,

findings of any one investigator or group are usually checked by others.